Seth MacFarlane reunites with Universal to make 'A Million Ways to Die in the West'

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After the runaway success of “Ted” last summer, Universal has decided it wants to stay in the Seth MacFarlane business.

The studio has come aboard to co-finance and distribute the “Family Guy” creator’s upcoming western, “A Million Ways to Die in the West.” The film has been set for a May 30, 2014 release date, Universal announced on Friday (May 10).

MacFarlane is set to co-write, direct, produce and star in the film, playing a sheep farmer named Albert. Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Sarah Silverman and Giovanni Ribisi are all attached to co-star.

Not only is the film a reunion between MacFarlane and Universal, but it’s also reconnecting much of the “Ted” team as that film’s producers Scott Stuber and Jason Clark and co-writers Wellesley Wild and Alec Sulkin are all performing the same duties on the new film. Media Rights Capital, which is co-financing, also co-financed “Ted.”

“Ted” proved that MacFarlane needn’t worry about crossing over from TV to film, as the movie grossed a whopping $549 million worldwide and even garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. A sequel is in the works.